3. Responses of MAFF to the earthquake disaster (as of March 29 17:00JST)

(1) Main responses of Japanese government to the earthquake disaster

・Japanese government established disaster countermeasuresoffice. (March 11)・Japanese government dispatched governmentalinvestigation teams to Miyagi prefecture( March 11), Iwate and Fukushima prefecture ( March 12).※MAFF dispatched 5 staff to each teams.・Japanese government designated the disaster by the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake as Heavy Disaster covered with all parts of the country(March 12)

(2) Main responses of MAFF to the earthquake disaster

【 Establishment of framework within MAFF 】

・MAFF established MAFF Earthquake ResponseHeadquarters(March 11)・MAFF established the contact point of consultationservice for the damages in agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors. (March 12)・MAFF confirmed MAFF Disaster Response Measures at MAFF Earthquake Response Headquarters.(March 12)・MAFF enhanced provision of the information through the MAFF’s Website

【 Establishment of support system in the devastated area 】

・MAFF’s staff dispatched to Fukushima, Miyagi and Iwate prefectures are engaged in emergency food assistance in collaboration with local authorities.
・Tohoku Regional Agricultural Administration Office, Tohoku Regional Forest Office, Kanto Regional Forest Office, Local Agricultural Administration Offices, Governmental Project Offices are also providing the necessary assistances in cooperation with these disaster countermeasures office on site.
・Fisheries Agency’s fishery oversight vessels (3 vessels) are engaged in the search activities on site (as of March 29).
・With cooperation with related organizations, Tohoku Regional Forest Office and Kanto Regional Forest Office are engaged in the transportation of food and various relief supplies to the evacuation centers by 20 cars. ( March 16-)

【Site survey】

・Hokkaido Regional Forest Office, Tohoku Regional Forest Office, Kanto Regional Forest Office, Chubu Regional Forest Office conducted researches by helicopters.(March 12, 13, 16 and 19)
※Researchs were conducted around Fujinomiya city on March 16.
・Hon. Ms. Tanabu, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries conducted the site survey to check on the damages and exchanged information and opinions with victims in Miyako City and Yamada Town, Iwate prefecture. (March 20)
・Fishery survey vessel Hakuryu Maru was engaged in the confirmation of the safety of some inhabitants in Oshika peninsula and provided the information to the Ishinomaki city government. (March 18-21)
・Hon Mr. Yoshida, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries conducted the site survey to check on the damages and exchanged information and opinions with local entities concerned in Ibaraki prefecture. (March 24)
・Hon. Ms. Tanabu, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries conducted the site survey to check on the damages and exchanged information and opinions with victims in Hachinohe City and Hashikami City, Aomori prefecture. (March 26)
・MAFF dispatched 4 staff including Head of Construction Planning and Coordination Office, Design Division, Rural Development Bureau to Miyagi prefecture. They investigate the situation of large-scale disaster and give assistance and advice for disaster recovery from Ishinomaki City to coastal area of Yamamoto Chou. (March 26 - 27)

【Finance】

・MAFF requested related financial institutions to provide smooth finance and rescheduling of loans and so on to victims in agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors. (March 11)

【Rural land and agricultural facilities】

・MAFF directed each prefectures to check dams and storage reservoirs and to prevent secondary disasters based on the premise of maximum priority on human life.
・MAFF dispatched experts of National Institute for Rural Engineering and staff in charge to Miyagi and Fukushima prefecture for the emergency checkups of agricultural facilities based on the requests from these prefectures. (March 13-)
・MAFF delivered 59 pumps for first aid from Land Improvement Technology Offices, 40 pumps to Miyagi prefecture and 19 pumps to Fukushima prefecture and they are in use.(as of March 29)

【Other issues】

・MAFF operated the customs and quarantines rapidly in close cooperation with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant ministries by providing information of the procedures of customs and quarantines of rescue dogs just after the earthquake. As a result of this operation, Japanese government has accepted 41dogs from U.K., U.S., Australia, Mexico, Swiss, Germany, Singapore and South Korea.
・MAFF issued technical guidelines in terms of feeding method to respond mixed feed shortage and temperature control of windless livestock facilities and horticultural facilities under blackout condition. (March 15)
・In support of ensuring the supply of mixed feeds, MAFF conducted the following measures.
a) request to concerned bodies on transportation of mixed feeds by domestic vessels and tracks from Kyushu, Hokkaido, etc.
b) lending service of stocked feed grains to livestock farmers with no fee and no security.
・To reduce the burden on the dairy farmers who need to discard their produced raw milk, MAFF issued a technical notice to promote quick milking suspension and to inform some technical advice. (March 24)